Active Versus Passive Voice Sentences in Business English Communication

How to use Active and Passive Voices in Business English Communication

In Business English communication both active voice and passive voice sentences have their own importance. Depending on the requirement, both active and passive voice sentences can be used appropriately.

Active voice sentences are more concise. Building their structures is easier than that of passive voice sentences. Active voice sentences seem to be natural, as they express that the subject does the action in a sentence. But, every so often, a manager or an employee needs to prefer the passive voice rather than active voice.

In a passive sentence, unlike the active voice sentence, the subject receives an action. However, in accordance with requirement, both can be used effectively. It is thus important to understand the use of both active voice sentence and passive voice sentence.

The active voice sentence construction is easy as it involves subject and verb and object.
Active voices sentences are more desirable than passive voice sentences, as they appear more natural by making the sentences straight forward. A sentence is written in active voice because the subject performs the action in that particular sentence. For example:

Our organization provides us training constantly.

My colleague attends the lectures regularly.

We are improving our business English communication skills.

Our employees have been performing their duties honestly.

There are times when using passive voice sentences becomes necessary, as the importance is to be given to the subject that receives the action, instead of the subject who does the action in a particular sentence, such as the following sentences.

The Financial reports have already been submitted to the management.

Rajesh was promoted to higher position by virtue of his hard work and positive attitude towards work.

Our accounting books are updated timely.

Business English communication skills can be developed by undergoing training program.

Note that the above sentences seem to be suitable in the passive voice, rather than active voice, because each of the sentences shows that the preference has been given to the subject that receives the action. In this way, using passive voice sentences is also appropriate as and when needed. Besides using passive in our daily conversation with our coworkers and colleagues in accordance with the requirement, we also need to use passive voice sentences in various formal letters depending upon the subject and the issues to be written about.

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Improving vocabulary skills of English language is one of the most important things to do in this day and age, as it helps you both personally and professionally. This article discusses the importance of vocabulary building in business English Communication..